Euphorbia serpyllifolia (Euphorbia serpillifolia[note 1]) is a species of euphorb known by the common names thymeleaf sandmat or thyme-leafed spurge. It is native to a large part of North America from Canada to Mexico, where it is a common member of the flora in many types of habitat. This is an annual herb growing as a prostrate mat or taking a somewhat erect form. The oblong leaves are up to about 1.5 centimeters long, sometimes hairy and finely toothed along the edges. The tiny inflorescence is a cyathium about a millimeter wide. It bears scalloped white petal-like appendages arranged around the actual flowers. At the center are several male flowers and one female flower, which develops into a lobed, oval fruit up to 2 millimeters wide. This plant had a number of traditional medicinal uses for many Native American groups.[4]
Subspecies
- Euphorbia serpyllifolia subsp. hirtula is limited to California and Baja California.[5]
- Euphorbia serpyllifolia subsp. serpyllifolia has far wider distribution throughout much of North America with a gap in interior eastern states of the United States.
Uses
The Zuni people use it as a cathartic, an emetic, and to increase the flow of milk in a breastfeeding mother.[6]:51 The leaves are used to sweeten corn meal and chewed for the pleasant taste.[6]:67
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